Bill Janney: Gunstock Carving

Episode DWDS-110

Using high-powered tools normally reserved for dentists, this son of a cabinet-maker creates super fine detail in relief carving gunstocks. What once was a hobby for Bill Janney has become a lifelong passion that he takes very seriously. "I guess it's just the sawdust in my veins," says Bill, "and life's too short to hunt with an ugly gun." This wood sculptor from central Ohio who is highly regarded as one of the premiere gun stock carvers, with collectors from all over the world commissioning his original carvings and paying as much as $5,000.00 for his works of art.

Bill Janney's carvings include everything from intricate patterns, to detailed scrollwork, to majestic wildlife, to poetic vistas as seen in the images to the right. Much of Bill's inspiration for design comes from the interests of the client and what that gun collector likes to hunt. But, the inspiration doesn't stop there. Bill pulls ideas and design elements from books, photographs, and the internet.

For DIY Woodsculpting, Bill Janney demonstrates carving scrollwork framing two mule deers into a client's gunstock. Bill also gives you all of the ammunition you need to begin and create beautiful gunstock relief carvings.